Interviews to Assess a Peer Health Navigator Service for People Who Are Transgender or Gender Diverse
PURPOSE People who are transgender or gender diverse (PTGD) often experience difficulties navigating the health care system due to a variety of factors such as lack of knowledgeable and/or culturally competent clinicians, discrimination, and structural and/or socioeconomic barriers. We sought to determine whether a peer health navigator service in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan helped connect transgender and gender-diverse clients and health care practitioners (HCPs) to resources, and how this service changed their health care experiences. METHODS Semistructured interviews were conducted with 9 clients and 9 HCPs. Interview transcripts were then analyzed by researchers using an interpretative phenomenological approach, with qualitative data analysis software. RESULTS The most prevalent theme that emerged from interview data, from both clients and HCPs, was support for the navigators’ work and a desire that the service should continue. It was reinforced by 3 subthemes: the import
